R&D Spending Data

The European Commission recently released the 2011 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard, which details R&D spending by Top 1000 EU & Top 1000 non-EU ‘big spenders’.  I know we’ve been cautioned against using patent applications or R&D spending as metrics of innovation but it’s certainly interesting data to play with.

 

You Rise of Asia pundits out there will be pleased to know that, while the USA & Japan continue to top the Non-EU list, spending growth is slowing compared with the Asian tigers and rising powers.

 

·         USA – 467 companies –160bn in R&D spending, up 10% on 2010

·         Japan – 267 companies – 99bn, down 9.7%

·         Taiwan – 50 companies – 7.5bn, up 17.8%

·         Korea – 25 companies – 13.5bn, up 20.5%

·         China – 19 companies – 7.6bn, up 29.5%

·         India – 18 companies – 1.8bn, up 20.5%

·         Hong Kong – 8 companies – 1bn, up 28.7%

·         Singapore – 6 companies – 0.47bn, up 10.8%

 

Of course it’s debateable whether any of this means anything.
 
- sezflom

East Asia innovating? (or just inventing?)

WIPO has released its 2010 tally of patent applications.  Year-on-year change from 2009:
  • China: + 56.2% (now ranks #4))
  • Rep of Korea: + 20.5% 
  • Japan: + 7.9%
  • "Six out of the top 10 applicants are from East Asia. In addition to the Chinese two, three are from Japan and one is from South Korea."
  • India is not in the top 15, but has experienced a 15% increase (albeit from a low base) 
  • Most Western countries have continued their downward trend, including the US (which is nonetheless #1)

- sezflom